bat1 jan2不忍
Jyutpingbat1 jan2
Yalebāt yán
Definition
Cannot bear to; unable to endure seeing or doing something.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
While 不忍 exists in written Chinese, Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 唔忍心 in daily speech. The structure 唔忍心 is a compound verb phrase that carries a strong emotional weight, often implying a sense of pity or moral hesitation. It is frequently used when someone feels guilty about taking an action that would cause distress to another person.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 不忍 in casual conversation, as it sounds overly formal or literary. Stick to 唔忍心 to sound natural and avoid appearing stiff.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
